Job Title: Collections Assistant
Reporting to: Head of Collections
Location: Welbeck Estate, Worksop, Notts
Working Hours: 35 per week (9am to 5pm), Monday to Friday.
Welbeck
Nestled in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Welbeck is conveniently located on the A60, just 15 minutes from the A1and M1.
Welbeck is one of the great historic country estates, covering 15,000 acres across Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The Welbeck Estates Company Limited manages this extensive land and property portfolio. Sustainability, innovation and rural diversification underpin all we do – from farming to residential lettings. By working to develop inspiring spaces in which to create, we have attracted a thriving community of artisan food producers, craftspeople and businesses.
A visit to the Courtyard promises excellent food, art and shopping. A focus on low food miles and rich food heritage has earned Welbeck Farm Shop a reputation as one of the country’s top farm shops. Next door the award-winning Harley Gallery shows contemporary exhibitions by leading visual artists. The Portland Collection gallery displays works of art from Welbeck’s internationally significant historic collection, which has been built up over the centuries by the Dukes of Portland and their families.
Brief description of role:
Working in Welbeck’s historic house you will play a vital role in the care of the collection in a busy, project driven department. Working within a small, highly skilled team you will assist with art and object handling and all aspects of preventative conservation. You will organise storerooms as directed and ensure appropriate care is taken of all collections in storage. Condition reporting, collections documentation and conservation cleaning under the supervision of our team leads will make up much of the day-to-day work. We care for a nationally significant collection and are situated at the heart of a historic family estate. As such discretion, adaptability and the ability to approach each task with positivity, as well as a keen, solution-seeking attitude are all ‘must haves.’
Additional training can be provided for the right candidate, although experience within historic collections or equivalent in specialist training is required.
Duties:
- All aspects of collections care, including conservation cleaning and basic restoration work – training available for the right candidate
- Relocating large objects across multiple onsite locations.
- Reorganising storerooms including some basic maintenance work.
- Handling, moving and hanging artwork
- Assisting with installing exhibits in the on-site Portland Gallery Museum during exhibition change overs
- Ensuring accurate location records are kept as the collection is moved between locations.
- Documentation support across the collection
Qualifications and experience required:
The successful candidate should have demonstrable practical experience or equivalent in education in working with historic objects, including art and object handling. Ideally this will have been in a country house setting or larger museum or gallery.
You must confidently be able to work both independently and as part of a small team, and be able to use you your own initiative when completing independent tasks.
As a discreet and trustworthy individual, you will have refined problem-solving skills and strong communication skills – both written and verbal – and a positive attitude toward your work. This role is highly physical, so you must have practical abilities including confidence to work from scaffolding and confidence moving large objects as part of a team. You will feel comfortable moving between tasks in a fast-paced environment, adhering to the best practise collections care within a private ownership context.
A degree in History, museum studies, conservation or equivalent, relevant qualification would be desirable but is not essential.
Welbeck is in rural location, so own transport is essential.
A higher-level security check must be passed before commencing the role.
If you would like to apply, please send a letter outlining your salary expectations, and CV.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Housing allowance
- Life insurance
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 26/08/2025
